The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Partners In Health (PIH) launched a clinic dedicated to Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) in Kabarondo Sector of Kayonza District, yesterday.Partners In Health (PIH-IMB), works with the Ministry of Health in the decentralisation and national scale up of care and treatment of NCDs.According to Dr. Fulgence Nyekabahizi, the director of Rwinkwavu Hospital, which is also supported by PIH, the health centre symbolised a long-term plan, to take health services closer to the population.Rwinkwavu Hospital is also located in Kayonza District. “This is a milestone in the health services...NCDs remain the most common silent killers. We have been busy attending to diseases that show immediate symptoms forgetting ailments like cardiac, diabetes,” he said.“We have specialised doctors who will handle NCDs including cancer. Our work includes sensitisation so that people with epilepsy, for instance, are not stigmatised.”Alphonse Ngarambe, the officer in charge of health in the district, said that the clinic was timely, since many cases went unnoticed in communities.“NCDs are very common and yet unattended to. It is a sad reality that people die of hypertension due to ignorance, we cannot afford that situation in the 21st century,” he said.John Muhirwe, one of the patients diagnosed with diabetes at the new health centre, urged the government to increase awareness campaign in society.
